Urban planners and other experts at a seminar on Friday observed that Bangladesh lagged far behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for creating sustainable cities and communities.
Their observations came at the seminar titled 鈥楾oward sustainable cities: understanding and assessing Bangladesh鈥檚 trajectory towards SDG-11 by 2030,鈥� organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Planners at its conference hall at Banglamotor, marking World Town Planning Day 2025.
They emphasised inclusive planning across urban, rural, haor, hill and char regions to make Bangladesh鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals achievable.
While presenting the keynote paper, the institute鈥檚 general secretary Shaikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan reminded the seminar that SDG-11 which centred the 鈥榤aking cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable鈥� theme comprised 10 targets and 15 indicators covering areas, including sustainable housing and urbanisation, transport systems, cultural and natural heritage, and the reduction of human and economic losses from disasters.聽
He said that Bangladesh鈥檚 trajectory towards SDG-11 remained slow and uneven due to inconsistent definitions and a lack of standardised indicators, obsolete datasets, technical capacity gaps among stakeholders, fragmented governance, weak urban financing, and limited collaboration with global and regional knowledge partners.
To achieve the SDG goal, the urban planner suggested strengthening data governance and capacity, improving inter-ministerial coordination, empowering local governments, targeting vulnerable populations, promoting sustainable urban infrastructure and services, and adopting an integrated five-year strategic approach to budgeting and implementation.聽
Addressing the event as chief guest, housing and public works ministry secretary Md Nazrul Islam said that although adequate laws and financial resources existed, the lack of good governance and accountability was hindering sustainable development in the country.
鈥業f those responsible for executing plans, especially political leaders, do not stand firm, it will be impossible to establish good governance, ensure the rule of law, and work in a systematic manner鈥攅ven with good design and planning,鈥� he added.
Member of the General Economics Division at the Bangladesh Planning Commission Monzur Hossain, also a government secretary, said that Bangladesh ranked 114th out of 167 countries globally in the 2025 SDG Index, and out of about 150 SDG targets, the country could not yet set targets for around 100.聽聽
He added that with rapid urbanisation, the country鈥檚 public infrastructure, transport and other services were also expanding, and addressing these challenges required coordinated efforts and strong institutions.
In his closing remarks, BIP president Adil Mohammed Khan said that if good governance could not be ensured and political leaders failed to keep their commitments, the country would fail to achieve its desired goals.
National Housing Authority chairman Ferdousi Begum, Urban Development Directorate director M Mahmud Ali and Rajdhani Unnayan KartiPakkha chairman Md Reazul Islam also spoke at the seminar.
